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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/bookofepigramsOOIyonrich 


A    BOOK    OF 


EPIGRAMS 


GATHERED    BY 


Ralph  A.  Lyon 


evanston 

William    S.    Lord 

1902 


EPIGRAMS 


POETRY 

She  comes  like  the  hushed  beauty  of  the 
night, 
But  sees  too  deep  for  laughter ; 
Her  touch  is  a  vibration  and  a  light 
From  worlds  before  and  after. 

[Charles  £.  Markham 

POETRY 

Poetry?     Can  I  define  it ,  you  inquire? 

Yes  ;  by  your  pleasure  , 
Poetry  is  Thought,  in  princeliest  attire, 

Treading  a  measure. 

[Dufield  Osborne 


395^943 


r\-4    i 


THE  YEAR'S  MINSTRELSY 

Spring,  the  low  prelude  of  a  lordlier  song; 
Summer,   a    music    without    hint    of 
death  : 
Autumn ,  a  cadence  lingeringly  long : 

Winter,  a  pause ; — the  Minstrel-Year 
takes  breath. 

[William  Watson 

THE  SUN 

All  the  World's  bravery  that  delights  our 

eyes, 

Is  but  thy  several  liveries ; 

Thou  the  rich  dye  on  them  bestows't , 

Thy  nimble  Pencil  paints  this  landscape 

as  thou  go'st. 

[Abraham  Cowley 


FAREWELL 

I  strove  with  none ,  for  none  was  worth 
my  strife. 
Nature  I  loved ,  and  next  to  nature,  art. 
I   warm'd   both    hands   before  the  fire  of 
life: 
It  sinks ;  and  I  am  ready  to  depart. 

[Walter  Savage  Landor 

LIFE 

As  a  shaft  that  is  sped  from  a  bow  unseen 

to  an  unseen  mark. 
As  a  bird  that  gleams  in  the  firelight,  and 

hurries  from  dark  to  dark , 
As  the  face  of  the  stranger  who  smiled  as 

we  passed  in  the  crowded  street, — 
Our  life  is  a  glimmer,  a  flutter,  a  memory, 

fading,  yet  sweet ! 

[William  Cranston  Lawton 


EPIGRAM  ON  THE   DEATH  OF   EDWARD 
FORBES. 

Nature,  a  jealous  mistress,  laid  him  low. 
He  woo'd  and  won  her;  and,  by  love 
made  bold , 
She  showed  him  more  than  mortal  man 
should  know, 
Then  slew  him  lest  her  secret  should 
be  told. 

[Sydney  Dobell 

ON  LONGFELLOW'S  DEATH 

No    puissant    singer    he,    whose     silence 
grieves 
To-day  the  great  West's  tender  heart 
and  strong ; 
No  singer  vast  of  voice :  yet    one    who 
leaves 
His  native  air  the  sweeter  for  his  song. 

[William  Watson 


DANIEL  WEBSTER 

We  have  no  high  cathedral  for  his  rest. 

Dim  with  proud  banners  and  the  dust 

of  years ; 

All  we  can  give  him  is  New  England's 

breast 

To  lay  his  head  on — and  his  country's 

tears. 

[Thomas  William  Parsons 

EUGENE  FIELD 

Fades  his  calm  face  beyond  our  mortal  ken, 
Lost  in  the  light  of  lovelier    realms 

above ; 
He  left  sweet  memories  in  the  hearts  of 

men 

And  climbed  to   God  on  little  children's 

love. 

[Frank  L.  Stanton 


THE  DEBTOR  CHRIST 

^7iid  Mihi  Et   Tibi 

What ,  woman ,  is  my  debt  to  thee , 

That  I  should  not  deny 
The  boon  thou  dost  demand  of  me  ? 

"I  gave  thee  power  to  die.'* 

[Jolin  B.  Tabb 

TWO  SPIRITS 

A  spirit  above  and  a  spirit  below , 
A  spirit  of  joy  and  a  spirit  of  woe ; 
The  spirit  above  is  the  spirit  divine  , 
The  spirit  below  is  the  spirit  of  wine. 

[Anonymous 


ON  A  SUN-DIAL 

With  warning  hand  I  mark  Time's  rapid 

flight 
From  lifers  glad  morning  to  its    solemn 

night ; 
Yet  5  through  the  dear  God's  love,  I  also 

show 

There's   Light  above    me   by    the  Shade 

Ipelow. 

[John  Gfcenleaf  Whittier 

BORROWING 

Froin  the  JRrench 

Sorne  of  your  hurts  you  have  cured , 
And  the  sharpest  you  still  have  survived , 
But  what  torments  of  grief  you  endured 
From  evils  which  never  arrived ! 

[Ralph  Waldo  Emerson 


YOUTH 

The  Tear ,  down  Childhood's  cheek  that 

flows , 
Is  like  the  dew-drop  on  the  Rose; 
When  next  the  Summer  breeze  comes  by, 
And  waves  the  bush ,  the   Flower  is  dry. 

[Sir  Walter  Scott 

MY  TROUBLES 

I  wrote  down  my  troubles  every  day  ; 

And  after  a  few  short  years , 
When  I  turned  to  the  heartaches  passed 

away , 

I  read  them  with  smiles ,  not  tears. 

[John  Boyle  O'Reilly 


SENSIBILITY 

The  soul  of  Music  slumbers  in  the  shell , 
Till  waked  and  kindled  by  the   Master's 

spell ; 
And    feeling    Hearts — touch     them     but 

lightly — pour 
A  thousand  melodies  unheard  before ! 

[Samuel  Rogers 

IS  LOVE  SO  BLIND 

The  records  of  ancient  times  declare 
That  hapless  Love  is  blind , 

Yet  many's  the  virtue,  sweet  and  rare, 
That  only  Love  can  find. 

[Henry  W.  Allport 


SYMPATHY 

What  gem  hath  dropped  and  sparkles  o'er 

his  chain  ? 
The  Tear  most  sacred,  shed  for  other's 

pain  5 
That  starts  at  once — bright — pure — from 

Pity's  mine , 
Already  polish'd  by  the  Hand  Divine. 

[Lord  Byron 

GRIEF 

What  cannot  be  preserved  when  Fortune 

takes  , 
Patience  her  injury  a  mockery  makes. 
The  robb'd  ,  that  smiles ,  steals  something 

from  the  Thief; 

He  robs  himself,  that  spend  a    bootless 

Grief. 

[William  Shakespeare 


OPPORTUNITY 

It  is  a  hag  whom  Life  denies  his  kiss 

As  he  rides  questward  in  knight-errant 
wise ; 
Only  when  he  hath  passed  her  is  it  his 
To  know  too  late  the  Fairy  in  disguise. 

[Madison  Cawein 

COMPETITION 

The  race  is  won  !     As  victor  I   am  hailed 
With    deafening     cheers    from    eager 

throats  ;  and  yet 
Gladder  the  victory    could  I  forget 
The  strained  ,  white  faces  of  the  men  who 
failed. 

[Julia  Shayer 


II 


SLANDER 

Oh  !  many  a  shaft ,  at  random  sent , 

Finds  mark  the  archer  little  meant ; 

And  many  a  Word  ,  at  random  spoken , 

May  soothe    or   wound    a    Heart     that's 

broken. 

[Sir  Walter  Scott 

VICE 

Vice  is  a  monster  of  so  frightful  mien , 
As  to  be  hated  needs  but  to  be  seen ; 
Yet  seen  too  oft ,  familiar  with  her  face  , 
We  first  endure,  then  pity ,  then  embrace. 

[Alexander  Pope 


12 


TALKING 
Words    learned    by   rote ,  a    Parrot    may 

rehearse  , 
But  talking  is  not  always  to  converse  ; 
Not  more  distinct  from  Harmony  divine , 
The  constant  creaking  of  a  Country  Sign. 

[William    Cowper 

THINKERS,  PAST  AND  PRESENT 

God  y  by  the  earlier  sceptic ,  was  exiled  ; 
The  later  is  more  lenient  grown  and  mild: 
He  sanctions  God  ,  provided  you  agree 
To  any  other  other  name  for  deity. 

[William  Watson 


THE  COOK  WELL  DONE 

Why  call  me  a  bloodthirsty  ,  gluttonous 
sinner 
For  pounding  my  chef  when  my  peace 
he  subverts  ? 
If  I  can't  thrash  my  cook  when  he  gets  a 
poor  dinner , 
Pray  how  shall  the  scamp  ever  get  his 

desserts  ? 

[Martial 
"U"  AND  'i" 

The  difference  between  you  and  me 
Is  this  ,  dear — more's  the  pity  — 

You're  summering  in  the  mountains , 
I'm  simmering  in  the  city  ! 

[Ogden  Ward 


14 


THE  FIVE  DOUBLE  US 

Winsomeness  ,  wardrobe  ,    words  of  elo- 
quence , 

Wisdom  ,  and  wealth  ,  bring  men  to  con- 
sequence. 

That's  something  which  a  man    in    vain 
pursues 

Who  is  not  blest  with  these  five  w's."^ 
[From  the  Sanskrit    (Tr.  by  Chas.  R.  Lanman) 

WEALTH 

Can  wealth  give  Happiness  ?  look  round  , 

and  see 
What  gay  distress  !  what  splendid  misery  ! 
Whatever  Fortune  lavishly  can  pour , 
The  mind  annihilates  ,  and  calls  for  more. 

[Edward  Young 


*The  Sanskrit  word  for  each  of  thess  five  things  begins  with  w. 

15 


EQUITY—? 

The  meanest  man  I  ever  saw 
Alius  kep'  inside  o'  the  law  ; 
And  ten-times  better  fellers  IVe  knowed 
The  blame  gran'-jury's  sent  over  the  road. 

[James  Whitcomb  Riley 

A  WHOLLY  UNSCHOLASTIC  OPINION 

Plain  hoss-sense  in  poetry-writin' 
Would  jest  knock  sentiment  a-kitin'! 
Mostly  poets  is  all  star-gazing' 
And  moanin*and  groanin'and  paraphrasin*! 

[James  Whitcomb  Riley 


i6 


GOLDEN  ROD 

It  is  the  twilight  of  the  year 

And  through  her  wondrous  wide  abode 
The  autumn  goes  ,  all  silently , 

To  light  her  lamps  along  the  road. 

[Charles  Hanson  Towne 

GRACE 

Thou  canst  not  move  thy  staff  in  air  , 

Or  dip  thy  paddle  in  the  lake  , 
But  it  carves  the  bow  of  beauty  there  , 
And  the  ripples  in  rhyme  the  oar  for- 
sake. 

[Ralph  Waldo  Emerson 


17 


FROM  THE  FRENCH 

Says  Marmontel ,  The  secret's  mine 
Of  Racine's  art-of-verse  divine. 
To  do  thee  justice  ,  Marmontel , 
Never  was  secret  kept  so  well. 

[William  Watson 

TWO  POETS 

A  peacock's-tail-like  splendour  hath   this 

Muse, 
With  eyes  that  see  not  throng'd,  and  gor- 
geous hues. 
The  swan's  white  grace   that   other  wears 

instead , 
Stately  with  stem-like  throat  and   flower- 
like head. 

[William  Watson 


18 


TOMORROW 

'Tis  so  far  fetch'd,  this  morrow,  that  I  fear 

'Twill  be  both  very  old  and  very  dear. 

Tomorrow  I  will  live  ,  the  fool  doth  say , 

Why  e'en  to-day's  too  late,  the  wise  lived 

yesterday. 

[Anonymous 

QUATRAIN 

Fear  not  the  menace  of  the  By-and-by ; 
To-day  is  ours,  tomorrow  Fate  must  give; 
Stretch  out  your  hands  and  eat,  although 

ye  die — 
Better  to  die  than  never  once  to  live. 

[Richard  Hovey 


iQ 


ON  MODERN  STATESMEN 

Midas,  they  say,  possessed  the  art  of  old, 

Of  turning  whatso'er  he  touched  to  gold. 

This  modern  statesmen  can  reverse  with 

ease; 

Touch    them    with  gold,  they'll  turn  to 

what  you  please. 

[Anonymous 
ON  FOLLY 

The  world  of  fools  has  such  a  store  , 
That  he  who  would  not  see  an  ass 

Must  bide  at  home  and  bolt  his  door  , 
And  break  his  looking-glass. 

[From  the  French  of  La  Monnoye 


ON  THE  ENBANKMENT 

The  impassive  stony  Sphinx  kissed  by  the 

amorous  moon ; 
The  little  coster-girl ,  a  Covent  Garden 

rose ; 
Three  thousand  years    apart !     And    yet 

alike  for  once  in  this — 

Tonight,  each  has  a  secret  she  will  not 

disclose. 

[William  Theodore  Peters 

LOVE 

That  happy  minglement  of  Hearts  , 

Where  ,  changed  as  chemic  compounds 
are, 
Each  with  its  own  Existence  parts , 
To  find  a  new  one  ,  happier  far  ! 

[Thomas  Moore 


21 


LOVE 

A  mighty  Pain  to  Love  it  is , 
And  'tis  a  Pain  that  Pain  to  miss ; 
But  of  all  Pains  ,  the  greatest  Pain 
It  is  to  Love  5  and  Love  in  vain. 

[Abraham  Cowley 

ON  WOMEN  AND  HYMEN 

Whether  tall  men,  or  short  men,  are  best, 
Or  bold  men,  or  modest  and  shy  men, 

I  can't  say  ,  but  I  this  can  protest , 

All  the  fair  are  in  favour  of  Hy-men. 

[Anonymous 


PETER  AND  HIS  WIFE 

After  such  years  of  dissension  and  strife, 
Some  wonder  that  Peter  should  weep  for 

his  wife  ; 
But  his  tears  on  her    grave  are  nothing 

surprising , — 
He's  laying  her  dust,  for  fear  of  its  rising. 

[Thomas  Hood 

WHICH  WAY  DID  HE  CO? 

(An  Obituary) 
His  earthly  warfare  now  is  o'er 
And  closed  his  life  sublime ; 
From  this  cold  world  he  vanished  for 
A  brighter  ,  warmer  clime. 

[Frank  L.  Stanton 


23 


WAR'S  GLORIOUS  ART 

One  to  destroy  is  murder  by  the  law, 

And    gibbets  keep  the  lifted  hand  in  awe: 

To   murder   thousands  takes   a    spacious 

name  , 

War's  Glorious  art ,  and   gives    immortal 

Fame. 

[Edward  Young 

ETERNITY 

The  One  remains ,  the  many  change  and 

pass ; 

Heaven's  light  forever  shines,  Earth's 

shadows  fly ; 

Life  ,  like  a  dome  of  many-coloured  glass, 

Stains  the  white  radiance  of  Eternity. 

'[Percy  Bysshe  Shelly 


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